This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Oddly, I picked so many favorites this week, I thought I was likely to leave the normally dog-heavy Pianowski an opening, but most of the Staff seemed to take more favorites than usual this week,
We all like the Chiefs, Bears and Colts and everyone but DDD likes the Giants, Panthers, Jets and Bills too. Both Stopa and Pianowski made the Jets their best bets, while I picked Chiefs.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys +6.5 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Cowboys |
| Panthers +9 Saints | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Saints |
| Jets +13.5 at Patriots | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Patriots |
| Lions +7.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Lions | Lions |
| Jaguars +7 at Texans | Jaguars | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Falcons +1 at Buccaneers | Falcons | Buccaneers | Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers |
| Dolphins +3 |
Oddly, I picked so many favorites this week, I thought I was likely to leave the normally dog-heavy Pianowski an opening, but most of the Staff seemed to take more favorites than usual this week,
We all like the Chiefs, Bears and Colts and everyone but DDD likes the Giants, Panthers, Jets and Bills too. Both Stopa and Pianowski made the Jets their best bets, while I picked Chiefs.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys +6.5 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Cowboys |
| Panthers +9 Saints | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Saints |
| Jets +13.5 at Patriots | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Patriots |
| Lions +7.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Lions | Lions |
| Jaguars +7 at Texans | Jaguars | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Falcons +1 at Buccaneers | Falcons | Buccaneers | Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers |
| Dolphins +3 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Dolphins |
| Raiders +13.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Eagles -6.5 at Redskins | Redskins | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Redskins |
| Browns +5.5 at Ravens | Ravens | Browns | Ravens | Browns | Ravens |
| Bengals +14 at Steelers | Bengals | Bengals | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Bears +5 at Vikings | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Chargers -6.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Cardinals +13.5 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Seahawks |
| 49ers +9.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | 49ers | Rams |
| Colts -2.5 at Titans | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts |
| Best Bet | Rams | Jets | Chiefs | Jets | Texans |
| Last Week's Record | 6-7-3 | 6-7-3 | 7-6-3 | 7-6-3 | 7-6-3 |
| 2018 Record | 117-114-9 | 123-108-9 | 130-101-9 | 105-126-9 | 111-120-9 |
| Best Bet Record | 11-5 | 11-5 | 9-7 | 8-7-1 | 6-9-1 |
| 2017 Best Bet Record | 8-7-2 | 9-7-1 | 12-4-1 | 8-7-2 | 11-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 23-21-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 121-110-9 | ||||
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | 119-123-14 | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | 123-128-5 | 115-136-5 | 132-119-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | 111-135-10 | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | 143-107-6 | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | 123-126-7 | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | 136-115-5 | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | 130-123-3 | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | 125-121-10 | 130-116-10 |
| 2007 Record | 127-120 | 118-129 | 127-120 | N/A | 130-117 |
| 2006 Record | 118-129 | N/A | 139-108 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Record | 121-126 | N/A | 127-120 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Record | 124-124 | N/A | 130-118 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Record | 121-126 | 118-129 | 124-123 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Record | 113-136 | 123-126 | 141-108 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Record | 124-113 | 117-120 | 118-119 | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 Record | 123-117 | 134-106 | 141-99 | N/A | N/A |
Unanimous/Majority Picks
This week we all like the Chiefs, Bears and Colts. Last week we went 1-2 on unanimous picks, winning with the Redskins and losing with the Lions and Cardinals, putting our season record at 23-21-1. We went 8-5-3 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 121-110-9. Last year we went 23-28-4 on unanimous picks and 121-121-14 on majority picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | The 49ers aren't just losing current players, they're having so many injuries that past and future Niners are also getting hurt. Meanwhile the Rams need this game - is there any doubt that getting the two-seed matters a ton, that they don't want to go back to Chicago? |
| Pianowski | Do you see a single game that gets you excited here? Maybe Ravens-Browns, I guess. Happy New Year, everyone! |
| Liss | I took way more favorites than I would normally like, but it's just how things broke. I like the Chiefs to roll at home in a must-win game against a weak opponent. I also like the Packers and Steelers for similar reasons. I was shocked how big the Seahawks and Saints lines were. The Seahawks have barely anything for which to play, and the Saints absolutely nothing. |
| Stopa | I really like fading a few of the teams that need to win - Pats, Ravens, Vikings - even as I lay big wood with Chiefs and Steelers. The difference? I expect offensive juggernauts KC and Pitt to name their score coming off a loss now facing league doormats. I love that Raiders just played their Super Bowl, too (Monday night Oakland sendoff). The Pats, Ravens and Vikings, by contrast, are coming off wins and are more defense-oriented. Plus, the underdogs in all three games may have the advantage at QB. Certainly the Browns do, and yes, Sam Darnold might be a better QB right now than Tom Brady. |
| Del Don | I don't love going with so many big favorites, but Week 17 is always funky. I especially like the setups for the Texans and Chiefs this week, both coming off losses and with incentive to win against teams who just pulled off upset victories. |
The players:
• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Weekly Rankings. Covers and roots for the Bengals.
• Scott Pianowski: Fantasy expert for Yahoo! Sports, and also contributes to Rotowire.com. 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2017 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.
• Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2018 Staff Picks Champ, 2003, 2004 co-champ. Writes East Coast Offense, Beating the Book and the Survivor column in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.
• Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2010, 2012 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Run 'N' Shoot. Roots for the Bills.
• Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.
